Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2006/06/30
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Which begs the question, why hasn't Kodak sold K-14 to another concern? Maybe Cosima can take it on, and supply Kodachrome for all their new LTM products. Now THAT would be interesting vertical integration! Off on vacation to the West Coast this coming week. Hope to hit the Nixon library and the Madonna Inn, all with my 8mm Bolex--the Leica of regular 8* Jim Shulman Bryn Mawr, PA *Note I did not mention the Leicina, an electric/electronic bomb best left forgotten. An 8mm Bolex is fully manual, fully adjustable, and fully rebuildable today--much like an M2 or M3. -----Original Message----- From: lug-bounces+jshul=comcast.net@leica-users.org [mailto:lug-bounces+jshul=comcast.net@leica-users.org] On Behalf Of G Hopkinson Sent: Friday, June 30, 2006 7:09 PM To: lug@leica-users.org Subject: [Leica] RE: Kodachrome lab to close in Europe (Tom Westbrook)LUGDigest, Vol 32, Issue 243 Tom, probably mainly known to Australian LUG members, Kodak some time ago closed their facility for Kodachrome processing (six weeks turnaround for Swiss processing) and ceased importing the film here. The closed facilities also included all paper and chemical manufacture. This was after large Government tax assistance was accepted to keep the plant open, which just delayed the closure. Several of us still have the letter from Kodak, sent to users of the processing. I think of it whenever I make a brand decision when buying film. Certainly transparency and black and white film users will only now be a subset of an already niche market. However a number of photographic concerns are making a living servicing that niche. For big companies, I think there are considerations regarding loyalty in both directions, market presence and flagship products. Plan B is ignore that traditional customer base and those products, and your self fulfilling prophecy is guaranteed. Still, only 20 million people in Australia, there'd never be enough niche customers to retain, now would there? Did I read correctly that the Swiss plant only employed 20 people and that USA processing is currently outsourced? Regards Hoppy Astia and Delta in my gadget bag